Easily cleaned hair comb



United States Patent 5 72] Inventor Lloyd Richard Poe [5 6] References Cited 4 Beverly Hlll, California (9035 Venice Blvd. UNITED STATES PATENTS l N f gjf gg 9034) 2,618,276 11/1952 Hamparson et al 132/138 [21] P 3,147,758 9/1964 121mm 132/151 [22] F1led Jan. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Primary Examinerl..ouis G. Mancene 7 Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill v Attorney-Lyon & Lyon [54] EASILY CLEANED HAIR COMB Quinn-3'23 Drawing Figs A ABSTRACT: A hair comb in which flat teeth normally [52] U.S.Cl 1 32/11 disposed in parallel relation are interconnected by integral [5 1] Int. Cl A4511 24/00 v hinge webs so that the teeth may be rotated in unison first in [50] Field of Search 132/11, one direction then the other to expose the sides thereof for cleaning.

wanted; M914, 1970' 3,542,040

Sheet "1 of s I NVENTOR. 0/420 F05 PiiiiitecTTNbi 24,1970 3,542,04

Sheet 2 of 3 INVENTOK LLoyo KWAED fi ry strength.

. 1 EASILY CLEANED HAIR COMB BACKGROUND on THE iNvENTioN l-Iair combs, as conventionally made, have fixed teeth with flat confronting sides which, cumulatively, provide a large area on which foreig'n-matter-collects. It is exceedingly dif- ,fig,ult.to .clean this area so that the collection of foreign matter becomes "a breeding ground for bacteria which, .when the comb is used, is transferred to the hair, and reinfection occurs the first time the comb is usedafter a shampoo, I

Various attempts have been made to provide a withstand theberiding loadsincidental to'combing'm'u st be exceptionally strong or be relatively large in diameter. As a practical matter, .a'com-b so constructed must be too coar'se to be usefuL- Q I I Another approach'to'ltheproblem isdisc'losed in U;-S. Pat.

portion having a flat combing portion extending from one end and a lever projecting radiallyfrom the other, end thereof. The

teeth are simultaneously turned by a reciprocable member.

However, the problem inherent in the previously indicated patents is not overcome, for if the journal portions are made small enough topermit acceptable tooth spacing, the teeth must be made of metal-at substantial cost t'ohave the necessa- A further problem inherent in "the listedpatents and insofar as kno n, in all attempts to provide a rotatable tooth comb is due to thefact that the teeth must be made-individually and ind'ividually assembled in'the comb at substantial labor cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION omitted.

comb which can bereadily cleaneil, by mounting the teeth so that they may: H be rotated so as to expose the'normally confronting areas of the teethgFonexample, U-.S. Pat. No. 2,808,062 discloses a ,Icomb with freely rotatable teeth of circular cross section. 1 "Another patenL-UrS. Pat. No. 1,340,946, provides a pinion at rit-he'rnfounted enjdof eacl tooth and-a rackdrive to rotate the .teethJ-In both or? these'qqortstructions the teeth are symmetrical about their longitudinal Taxes and thereforein order to No. 2,401,143. I-Ier'e each toothincludes a cylindrical journal FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 5-5 of FIG; 3, with the comb frame shown in elevation.

' FIG. 6 isan enlarged fragmentary plan view of the comb structure, corresponding to FIG, 3, butwith the comb frame FIG. 7 is a sectional" view of the comb structure, taken through 7-7 of FIG-5,- showing the teeth in parallel relation;

that is, in their combing position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the comb structure, corresponding to FIG; 6, but showing the teeth in one of their angular positions assumed for cleaning purposes. I

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 7, but showing the teeth in one of their angular cleaning positions.

- modified to provide key receiving notches.

l The present inventionprovidesa solution to the problems previously encountered in the manufacture of combs having turnahle or rotatable teeth and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide an easily cleaned'hair comb wherein the teeth are rotatable in unison in one directionfr'om aninitially parallel relation to an angular relation in which at least half of the normally confronting sides are exposed, and are rotatable in the opposite direction to expose the remaining half of the confronting sides, thereby to permit complete cleaning of the teeth. Second, toprovidean easily cleaned hair comb which,

because'of 'tl'iemovement indicated in the preceding object,

the teeth may have a width-to-thickness ratio and a spacing I comparable to a standard fixed tooth comb.

Third, to provide an easily cleaned comb in which the teeth are joined integrally by hinge elements in such a manner that the teeth and connecting hinge elements'may be injection molded as a single unit; whereby, although the teeth are turnaminimal.

Fourth, to provide a comb which is so readily and quickly manipulated for cleaning asto make feasible, the cleaning of the'comb after each use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 15 is a transverse sectional view, taken through 1545 of FIG. 14. I v I FIG. 16 is a'partial side view, partial sectional view, showirig a modified form of the easily cleaned hair comb. FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view, taken through 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 1818 of FIG. 16, with the comb structure shown in plan and with the teeth in parallel combing position.

FIG. 19 isa similar enlarged fragmentary sectional view,

showing the teeth in one of their cleaning positions.

FIG. 20 is a similar fragrrjientary sectional view, showing the teeth in their other cleaning position.

'FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 21-21 of FIG. 16,1showing the teeth in their combing ble rather than fixed, the manufacturing cost of the comb is position.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken in the same plane as FIG. 21, showing the teeth in one of their cleaning positions.

FIG. 23 is a corresponding fragmentary sectional view, showing the teeth in their other'cleaning position.

Reference is first directed to FIGS. 1 through 11. The construction here illustrated includes a comb frame 1, which in turn includes a back member 2 and a pairof end teeth 3 at the extremities thereof.

A set of orientation members 4 in the form of stub teeth project from the back, member 2 between the end teeth 3.

.The comb frame 1 receives a comb structure 5 which includes a pair of mountingbars6 adapted to be disposed along opposite sides of the comb frame, between the end teeth 3.

.The mounting bars cover the sides of the orientation members sides of the orientation members or stub teeth 4, the stub teeth 'fit between the up'perportions 8 of the combing teeth 7 so as longitudinal channel 'crum notches 21. t 'Th'e modified construction includes a comb structure 22,

, I When the comb structure is separated from the comb frame I, the mounting bars 6 may be moved longitudinally relative to each other in opposite directions, one such position being shown in H68. 8" and 9. With reference to FlG.'9,it will be noted thatthe'areasindicated. by 12 and 13 of eachtooth are exposedfor cleaning. When themounting bars 6 are moved to their opposite position, the teeth are moved to the position shown in FIG. 10, exposing the" areas 14 and 15 thereof. The spacing between the teeth and the width of the teeth are so proportioned that the entire surface of each tooth is exposed when the teeth are positioned as shown in FIG. 9

' and then moved to the position shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the

in order to facilitaterelativelongitudinal movement of the mounting bars 6, a series of ribs 16 are provided.

Reference is nowdirected to FIGS. 12 through 16. In the construction here illustrated, the side bars 6 of. the comb structure are provided with opposed notches 6a and the comb frame 1 is provided at its normally top sidewith side recesses In which form a key web lb. t

The key web lis used to effect relative movement of the bars 6 by inserting theltey web into the notches 64: then tuming the comb frame relative to the comb structure causing the notches 6a to be displaced. ltis preferred, if the notches 6a are provided, to make the side bars 6 heavier.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 17 through 23. In the construction shown in H68. 1 through 11, the comb structure 5is separated from the comb frame for purposes of cleaning the comb structure. In the modified construction, the comb structure remains in the comb frame during the cleaning operation.

The modified construction includes a comb frame 17, having aback member, 18 and a pair of end teeth 19. Formed in the back member and extending between the end teeth 19, is av 20, one side of which has series of ful having a mounting bar 23 which fits within the channel in opposition to. the fulcrum notches 21.A set of combing teeth 24 are provided, having journal portions 25 at their upper ends which pivot in the fulcrum notches 21. The joumal portions 25 are joined to the mounting bar by hinge webs 26.

The mounting bar 23 is provided with one or more cam bosses 27 which cooperate with cam slots 28 formed in the confronting wall of the channel 20. The cam bosses and their mating slots are so shaped that when themounting bar 23 is moved longitudinally in the channel 20, the mounting bar 23 is forced toward the fulcrum notches 21 to permit pivotal or turning movement of the combing teeth in the manner permitted by the hinge webs 26.

in order to effect the desired longitudinal movement of the mounting bar, the mounting bar is provided with an operating boss 29 which projects through a clearance slot 30 in the back member ofthe comb frame.

7 When the mounting bar 23 is moved from one extreme position to the other. the combing teeth 24-are caused to pivot from the position shown in FIG. 22 to the position shown in- FlG.-23 through the position shown in FIG. 21. As in the first described structure, at least half the surface of each tooth is exposed when the teeth are in the position shown in F IO. 22, and the remaining surface of each tooth is exposed when in the position shown in FIG. 23. Normally, the cam bosses 27 and their cam slots 28 hold .the teeth in parallel or combing position, as shown in H6. 21.

combing teeth 24, hinge webs 26 and mounting bar 23 may be readily formed b injection molding as a-single art.

While partrc ar embodiments of this inven on have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set fo th; but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modificatio'ns'and equivalents of'the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l An easily cleaned hair comb, comprising:

a. a comb frame;

b. a plurality of combing teeth mounted therein and having normally confronting sides;

c.- pivot means for each tooth permitting limited turning thereof; and

d. means for turning said teeth in unison in-one direction to expose for cleaning portions of said normally confronting sides and for turning said teeth in unison in the opposite direction to expose for cleaning the remaining portions of said normally confronting sides.

2. A hair comb, as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot means are-individual hinge webs integrally connecting each tooth to said turnin means.

3. A haircomb, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said turning means include a pair of oppositely mounted moving bars at opposite sides of said teeth; and

b. said pivot means includes a pair of hinge webs integrally joining each tooth to said bars.

4. A hair comb, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said turning means includes a barat one side of said teeth and an opposed series of fulcrum notches for said teeth; and

b. said pivot means includes a hinge web integrally joining each tooth to'sa id bar and journal portions formed on said teeth and received in said fulcrum notches.

5. A hair comb, as defined in claim 3, wherein:

a. said comb frame includes means fitting between said teeth at the hinge web ends thereof to retain said teeth in parallel relation; and t v b. said combing teeth and bars are removable as a unit from bars thereby to tum'said teeth.

6. An easily cleaned hair comb, comprising;

a. a frame of combing teeth;

-b. at least one flexible integral hinge extending from one side 'of each tooth at one end thereof; 7

c. and at least one mounting bar integrally connected to said flexible hinges; and

d. means for turning said teeth in unison by movement of said bar relativeto said frame between parallel positions in which portions of said teeth are in confronting relation, and angular positions in which said confronting portions are exposed for cleaning.

7. A hair comb, as defined in claim 6, wherein:

- a. a pair 'of said bars, are provided and a pair of said hinges connect each tooth to said bars; and

b. said bars form said tooth turning means.

8. A hair comb, as defined in claim 7, wherein: Y

a. said bars are provided with key receiving notches; and

b. a key dimensioned to be received in said notches and said: combframeio. permit opposedv movement of said adapted to turn thereby to cause relative longitudinal dis- 1 posite said bar, and said teeth include journal elements fitting said notches; and 1 b. said bar and notches means form means.

said tooth turning 

